Massage chair



June 2.3, 1959 W- N MOXLEY 2,891,538

MASSAGE CHAIR Filed July 2l, 1955 0 54]; j E0. dlr

United States Patent MASSAGE CHAIR William N. Moxley, Los Angeles,Calif.

AMpplication July 21, 1955, Serial No. 523,523

11 Claims. (Cl; 12S-33) embodyingl a` massage or vibrationY producingunit, inl

which the massagingaction of the unit is transmitted, with a "highdegreeof effectiveness, to thev lower regions of-thebackof the person seatedin the chair, aswell as Vto.

other desirable regions of the persons back and body.

"jA further object of the invention is to provide a chair containing`anirnproved supporting structure for securing the massageunitito thechair, in order that a massaging action will be. imparted to variousvregions ofthe ,chair and to the body of the person seated thereon.

'This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objectswhich may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a formin which it may be embodied. Tlhis form is shown in the drawingsaccompanying and'forming part' ofthe present specification. It willnow'be described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the generalprinciples of the invention; but Yit is to lbe understood that' suchdetailed description is .not to be taken in-a limiting sense, since thescopeof the invention is best d'e'finedby the appended claims.

,'Referring to the drawings:

'Figure 1 is a side elevational and vertical sectional view through achair embodying the invention;

Pig. 2 'is a 'bottom plan view of the chair disclosed in Fig. 1';

.Fig v3 is an enlarged sectional and' elevational view taken generallyalong the line 3-3 on Fig. Y1.

Asdisclosed in, the drawings, the invention is incorporated fina .chairhaving a seat and a back portion 11, as wellY as spaced arm rests or armportions 12 at the chair sides. The chair includes a frame that may bemade of wood orsimilar rigid material, this frame including a frontAportion 13 Va rear portion 1'4, 14a, Vand intervening side,por.tions15. ,appropriately .secured to the rear andv .front portions 14, 13.Feetl, adapted to rest upon the door, may be secured at the bottom ofthe frame at thefour corners of the chair.

Theback A11 .of .the chair may extend `upwardly from the-rear 14, 14a ofthe frame,.or from the portion 14a of the chair that may be disposedforwardly of the rear end 14 of the frame. As disclosed inthe drawings,the rear. :of .the-.frameI may .include the vertical. portion 14 fromwhich theforward horizontal `portion Y14a extends. Tlhe specic structureof Vthe frame rear, however, may be changed', vdepending vupon thecharacter of the chair. As an example, the back 11 of the chair may be'lixed with respect to the frame, or it may be adjustably mounted i CLwith respect thereto, in order to allow the back to be dis.- posed inthe upright position disclosed, or to be tilted 'backward to a partialor fully reclining position. Similarly, the front 13 of the frame, or atleast a part thereof, may be lixed or may be adjustably mounted so as toswing upwardly to provide a support for th-e'legs `of the. person seatedin the chair.

The back 11 of the chair, as well as the seat 10', front portion 17 andarm portions 12 are padded, preferably through the use of foam rubber,that bears ,against the frame structure. A suitable covering material 18is `disposed over the foam rubber, as is usual in upholstered or paddedchairs.

It is desired to impart a massaging action to regions of the body of aperson seated in the chair, the massaging or vibrating action beingtransmitted through the frame of the chair, and through the rubber orrubber-like padding material, to the persons body. The unit 19 forimparting the massaging or vibratory action to the persons body issecured to the lbottom portion of the frame. It is carried on a steelsub-frame 20 secured to the side and rear portions 15, 14a of the chairframe.

The sub-frame 20 specifically disclosed in the drawings is of angle ironconstruction. It includes a rear angle iron member 21 attached to therear frame portion 14a, as by means of vertically disposed screws 22extending upwardly through the horizontal flange 23 of the rear member`21v into the rear portion of the frame, and also by horizontal screws'24 extending through the vertical flange 25 and threaded into thewooden frame 14a. As is evident from the drawings, the horizontal flange23 engages the undersurface of the wood frame member 14a, whereas thevertical flange engages the front of the rear wood frame member 14a. Avertical intermedia-te frame member 26 may be Vdisposed immediatelyabove the angle iron frame 21, extending upwardly to the padded seatportion 10 of the chair.

The sub-frame also includes forwardly disposed side members .27, thelower flanges 2S of which engage the lower surfaces of the side framemembers 15, and the vertical iianges 29 of which engage the innersurfaces of the side frame members 15. The flanges 28, 29 are secured tothe wooden side frame members 15 by screws 30 passing through the angesand threaded into the side frame members.

Disposed between and integral with the rear member 21 and the sidemembers 27 of the sub-frame 2t) are diagonal members 31. These diagonalmembers 31 also have horizontal and vertical anges 32, 33. Actually,,the forward members 27 of the sub-frame 20, the diagonal members 31 andthe rear member 21 may be made integral merely by notching thehorizontal flange of an angle iron, and by then bending the verticalflanges at the points of juncture between the rear member 21 and thediagonal members 31, and also between the diagonal members and theforward members 27.

An angle iron cross-piece member 34 is secured to and between thediagonal members 31 between the rear member 21 and the forward members27, as by use of welding material 35, This cross member 34 includes ahorizontal ange 36 and a vertical llange 37, the horizontal flange beingsubstantially coplanar with the other horizontal flanges of thesub-frame. The cross-piece is disposed at a particular location alongthe diagonal members 31, preferably being arranged substantiallyparallel to the rear member 21 of the sub-frame. The cross-piece isdisposed at a particular location, to appropriately position the massageunit 19, which is secured by bolts 38, or the like, to the horizontalflange 36 of the cross-piece. The Vmassage unit 19 is adapted to imparta massaging or vibrating action to the sub-frame 20, which istransmitted from the Vsub-frame tothe wooden frame members `14, 14a, 13,y15

of the chair, and from the latter to the various padded regions of thechair.

The massage unit 19 specifically disclosed includes an electric motor 40of any suitable type having its armature shaft 41 extending through andsuitably secured to an eccentric 42, which is caused to rotate by thearmature shaft. This eccentric d2 is secured within an inner race 43carrying a set of ball bearing ele-ments d4, which engage an outer raceto which a plurality ot circumferentially spaced rubber inserts orsegments 46 are secured, these rubber segments in turn being secured tothe inner portion of a bearing support i7 integral with, or otherwisesuitably secured to, an arm 4? extending transversely of the axis of theapparatus. The arm dll is integral with a shoe plate 49 disposedoutwardly of the motor and generally parnllc to the @exis of rotation ofthe armature shaft 41. The shoe plate extends lenghwise of the motor,its other end being integral with an inwardlyv extending arm d, whichis, in turn, integral with a cross member 51, to which the end of themotor frame remote from the eccentric is secured through the agency of allexiblc coupling. The flexible coupling includes a plurality of oars52, of fiber o-r other llexible material, secured to a frame flange 53by screws 54, or the like, the flexible bars also being attached byscrews 55 to the cross member 51.

If desired, a suitable cover member 56 may be placed over the bearingsupport 47, being secured thereto by screws 57, or the like. Similarly,another cover member 58 may be placed over the cross member 51 to ho-usethe flexible coupling 52, being suitably secured to the cross member 51by screws, or the like. This last-mentioned cup-shaped cover member 5Smay have an axial opening 59 in its end wall through which an electricline 60 leading from the motor di) can pass. The other end of the line60 is connected to a switch and rheostat 61 to which an electric cord orlino 62, is connected. This line 62 has a plu-g at its terminus forinsertion in a suitable electric outlet or socket (not shown). Theswitch and rheostat 61 may be suitably supported on the exterior portionof one of the side arm sections 12 for easy manipulation by a personseated within the chair.

The massage or vibratory unit 19 is secured to the horizontal flange ofthe cross-piece 3d and substantially midway along its length, with theaxis of rotation of the armature shaft disposed substantially parallelto the cross-piece 34 and to the rear member 21 of the subframe 2t).Thus, the shoe plate i9 is secured to the hori- Zontal ange of thecross-piece by the spaced bolts 38 to locate the unit in the relativeposition just described. As the motor rtl rotates, the eccentric 4Zmounted thereon will produce a gyratory or vibratory action upon thearms 4S, 50 and the shoe plate 419, which is transmitted to thecross-piece 34, and through the latter to the remainder of the sub-frameZtl. From the rear 21 and forward portions 27 of the sub-frame, thevibratory action is transmitted to the wooden frame structure 13, 14,14a, 15, 26, or other frame structure, of the chair. he massagingaction, which is actually in the form of a circular motion, is impartedthrough the sponge rubber or other pliant, elastic padding of the seat1t) to the body of the person on the seat, as well as through the front17 of the chair to the persons legs. lt is also transmitted through thefoam rubber padding to the arms of the person resting upon the armportions i2 of thc chair, and through the back 11 of the chair to thepersons back, shoulder blades and neck.

The massage unit 19 is located in a particular position in the bottomframe structure Ztl, which, it is found, will eflectively transmit themassaging action substantially uniformly throughout the entire chairstructure. it is found that the spacing of the cross-piece 34 and thelocation of the massage unit 19 from the rear member 21 of the sub frameand rear chair portion 14a, a distance which is approxiniately 30percent of the distance between the rear member 14a and the front frame13 of the chair, an elective and substantially uniform massaging actionis imparted to all parts of the chair. The substantial uniformity in thetransmission of the massaging action throughout the chair is retained ifthe above percentage is varied by about 5 percent. Thus, if the distanceof the cross-piece 34 in the massage unit from the rear member 14a is 25percent to 35 percent of the distance from the rear member 14a to thefront frame member 13 of the chair, an eiective massaging action istransmitted throughout the chair, although if the above distance is the30 percent value previously described, the transmission is mosteffective and efficient. Variations from the value of the 30 percentgiven above to a greater extent than 5 percent will reduce theeffectiveness of the vibration transmission attached to the chair. As anexample, if the vibration unit 19 is mounted on the frame too close tothe rear member 14a, then the vibrations will be imparted predominantlyto the back portion 11 of the chair and will be considerably reduced atthe front portion 17 of the chair. Similarly, if the cross-piece 34 andmassage unit 19 are disposed substantially forward of the chair, thenthe massaging action will predominate at the forward portion of thechair, and will not be transmitted effectively to the back portion 11 ofthe chair.

It is, accordingly, evident that the critical location of thecross-piece 34 and the massage unit 19 at the place indicated in theframe structure 13, 14, 14a, 15 produces effective transmission of themassage action throughout the chair. Moreover, the particular sub-frame20 illustrated is economical to manufacture, providing a simple andeiective manner of properly mounting and locating the massage unit 19 onthe chair structure.

The padded back of the chair is specifically designed to imparteffective massaging action to the dilerent regions of a persons back,shoulders and neck. In effect, the padded back part of the chair isdivided into three sections 11a, 11b, 11e. Thus, a lower section 11athat is convex in a forward direction is adapted to engage the lowerportion of the persons back seated in the chair. The intermediate convexsection 11b is adapted to engage the upper portion of the back, and theuppermost convex section 11C is adapted to engage the persons neck, andalso the persons shoulders. It is found that a more effective massagingaction is imparted to the rear of the persons body, and extending fromthe back to the neck, if the curvature of the upper section 11C is maderelatively abrupt, the curvature being much sharper and pronounced thanif the curvature were made to lie upon a circle. The curvature at thebottom portion 11a of the chair back also does not lie on a circle, theextent of its curvature being much atter than the curvature of the upperportion 11C of the chair. The intermediate portion 11b of the chair backhas a relatively flat curvature.

With the particular back curvatures described and shown, the lowerportion 11a of the chair back is adapted to lit electively within thesmall of a persons back, while the intermediate portion 11b is shaped toeffectively fit the major length of the back, running up to the personsneck. The uppermost portion 11C of the chair is designed toappropriately fit against the persons neck, with the lower surface 11dof the upper portion 11e being adapted to engage the persons shoulders.The contour of the chair back 11 provides a relatively snug engagementbetween the lower section 11a with the lower portion of the personsback, the intermediate section 11b with the upper portion of the personsback, and the upper section 11e with the persons neck and shoulder area.

The inventor claims:

1. 1n chair apparatus: a chair base frame including front, rear and sidemembers secured together; a seat and back supported by said frame, saidback extending upwardly from said frame with its lower portion adjacentthe rear of said seat, said seat and hack each including a layer ofpliant, elastic material;` a bottom frame secured` to the rear and' sidemembers of said chair basev 'frame;,rrotatable vibration producing meanssecured" to said bottom framewith its rotational' axissubstantially-parallel tjo saidl yfront and rear members; saidrotationalv axis being spaced Vfrom said rear member from Z vpercentto3`5 percentof the distance between said 'front' andy rear members.

2L 'Inchair apparatus: a chair 'base frame including front, rear andlside members securedtogether; ,a` seat and back supported'by said frame,saidback extending upwardly from said-frame with itslower portionadjacent the rear of'said seat, said'seat and back each including alayer of pliant; elasticmaterial; abottom frame secured to.v the rearand side members of said chair base Vframe; rotatable. vibrationproducing means secured to saidv bottom .frame wit-h its rotational'axissubstantially p arallel to said kf'ro'rit and' rear members;said'rotational axis being spaced from said rea'r member laboutVSlT-percentof the distance between said frontandrear members.

3. In chair apparatus: a chair frame including front, rear and sidemembers secured together; a seat and back supported by said frame, saidseat and back each including a layer of pliant, elastic material; abottom frame including a rear section secured to said rear member,forward sections secured to said side members, diagonal sectionsextending between and secured to said rear and forward sections, and across-section substantially parallel to said rear section and extendingbetween and secured to said diagonal sections; and rotatable vibrationproducing means secured to said cross-section with its rotational axissubstantially parallel to said rear section.

4. In chair apparatus: a chair frame including front, rear and sidemembers secured together; a seat and back supported by said frame, saidseat and back each including a layer of pliant, elastic material; abottom frame including a rear section secured to said rear member,forward sections secured to said side member-s, diagonal sectionsextending between and secured to said rear and forward sections, and across-section substantially parallel to said rear section and extendingbetween and secured to said diagonal sections; and rotatable vibrationproducing means secured to said cross-section with its rotational axissubstantially parallel to said rear section; said rotational axis beingspaced from said rear member from 25 percent to 35 percent of thedistance between said front and rear members.

5. In chair apparatus: a chair base frame including front, rear and sidemembers secured together, all of said members being substantiallyhorizontal; a seat and back supported by said frame, said back extendingupwardly from said frame with its lower portion adjacent the rear ofsaid seat, said seat and back each including a layer of pliant, elasticmaterial against which a persons body can rest; said back comprising alower forwardly facing convex portion adapted to engage the lower regionof a persons back, an intermediate forwardly facing convex portionadapted to engage the upper region of a persons back, and an upperforwardly facing convex portion adapted to engage a persons neck; abottom frame secured to said chair base frame; rotatable vibrationproducing means secured to said bottom frame with its rotational axissubstantially parallel to said front and rear members; said rotationalaxis being spaced from said rear member from 25 percent to 35 percent ofthe distance between said front and rear members.

6. In chair apparatus: a chair frame including front, rear and sidemembers secured together; a seat and back supported by said frame, saidseat and back each including a layer of pliant, elastic material againstwhich a persons body can rest; said back comprising a lower forwardlyfacing convex portion adapted to engage the lower region of a personsback, an intermediate forwardly facing convex portion adapted to engagethe upperregionofa persons `back,.and an upper forwardly,y facing.Aconvex portion 4adaptedto engage a persons neck;

the. lcurvature of 'said`I lower portion being substantiallymorepronounced than saidintermediate portion, and thef curvature ofthe`upper portion being substantially morepronounced tlian said lowerportion; a bottom frame secured to said chair frame; rotatable vibrationproducing meanssecured'to .saidfbottom frame with its rotational'.

including alayer of pliant,V elastic material against which a persons'body can rest; said backv Vcomprisinga lower forwardly facing convexportion adaptedV to engage the lower. region of the persons back, anVintermediate forwardly facingv convex' portion adaptedl to engage ktheupper region of a persons back, and an upper forwardly facing convexportion adapted to engage the persons neck; a bottom frame including arear section secured to said rear member, forward sections secured tosaid side members, diagonal sections extending between and secured tosaid rear and forward sections, and a crosssection substantiallyparallel to said rear section and extending between and secured to saiddiagonal sections; and rotational vibration producing means secured tosaid cross-section with its rotational axis substantially parallel tosaid rear section.

8. In chair apparatus: a chair frame including front, rear and sidemembers secured together; a seat and back supported by said frame, saidseat and back each including a layer of pliant, elastic material againstwhich a persons body can rest; said back comprising a lower forwardlyfacing convex portion adapted to engage the lower region of the personsback, an intermediate forwardly facing convex portion adapted to engagethe upper region of a persons back, and an upper forwardly facing convexportion adapted to engage the persons neck, the curvature of said lowerportion being substan tially more pronounced than said intermediateportion, and the curvature of said upper portion being substantiallymore pronounced than said lower portion; a bottom frame including a rearsection secured to said rear member, forward sections secured to saidside mem bers, diagonal sections extending between and secured to saidrear and forward sections, and a cross-section substantially parallel tosaid rear section and extending between and secured to said diagonalsections; and rotational vibration producing means secured to saidcrosssection with its rotational axis substantially parallel to saidrear section.

9. In chair apparatus: a generally rectangular chair base frameincluding front, rear and side members secured together; feet adapted toengage a floor secured to the four corners of said frame; a seat andback supported by said frame, said back extending upwardly from saidframe with its lower portion adjacent the rear of said seat, said seatand back each including a layer of pliant, elastic material; a bottomframe secured to the rear and side members of said chair base frame;rotational vibration producing means secured to said bottom frame withits rotational axis substantially horizontal and parallel to said frontand rear members; said rotational axis being spaced from said rearmember from 25 percent to 35 percent of the distance between said frontand rear members.

10. In chair apparatus: a generally rectangular chair base frameincluding front, rear and side members secured together; feet adapted toengage a floor secured to the four corners of said frame; a seat andback supported by said frame, said back extending upwardly from saidframe with its lower portion adjacent the rear of said seat, said seatand back each including a layer of plaint, elastic material; a bottomframe secured to the rear and side members of said Chair base frame;rotational vibration producing means secured to said bottom frame withits rotational axis substantially horizontal and parallel to said frontand rear members; said rotational axis being spaced from said rearmember about 30 percent of the distance between said front and rearmembers.

11. In chair apparatus: a generally rectangular chair base frameincluding front, rear and side members secured together; feet adapted toengage a floor secured to the four corners of said frame; a seat andback supported by said frame, said back extending upwardly from saidframe with its lower portion adjacent the rear of 15 said seat, saidseat and back each including a layer of pliant, elastic material againstwhich a persons body can rest; said back comprising a lower forwardlyfacing convex portion adapted to engage the lower region of the personsback, an intermediate forwardly facing convex portion adapted to engagethe upper region of the persons back, and an upper forwardly facingconvex portion adapted to engage the persons neck; a bottom framesecured to said chair base frame; rotational vibration producing meanssecured to said bottom frame with its rotational axis substantiallyparallel to said front and rear members; said rotational axis beingspaced from said rear member from 25 percent to 35 percent of thedistance between said front and rear members.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,615,615 Cannon lan. 25, 1927 2,427,053 Hampton Sept. 9, 1947 2,587,207Peterson Feb. 26, 1952 2,595,272 Kost May 6, 1952 2,715.901 Blake Aug.23, 1955

